Partly Facetious: Retired general loved more than incumbent PM?

“So our retired General Raheel Sharif, is loved more than the elected prime minister…”

“Three times elected prime minister and the fourth time coming up courtesy the ongoing development work and if you have any doubt remember what one man shouted to Mian sahib as he inaugurated the Multan Metrobus? Mian sahib I love you…”

“Mian sahib allowed it, didn’t he? I know the army is a centre of power in this country, that is after all a ground reality, but as a Nawala I would like to state that it is OK to upstage a prime minister when you hold the office of the chief of army staff but to upstage him when you don’t!?”

“Are you referring to what happened in Davos? It’s not Raheel Sharif’s fault that the World Economic Forum administration had the former General in five sessions while Mian sahib was in none.”

“International conspiracy, I say!”

“Oh for Pete’s sake, anyway, but the point is Mr Sharif should not upstage the other Sharif now that he is retired.”

“Two corrections, first once a general always a general, so you can’t refer to him as Mr Sharif and secondly…”

“No, secondly my friend…it is Mian sahib’s protocol 101 namely he is not to be upstaged at any forum’ and he is to be given credit for all the good that has happened during his latest tenure and…”

“And what about all the bad that has happened and is happening during his tenure? I refer to the rising indebtedness, more outflows than inflows – be it in terms of borrowing or foreign direct investment or trade balance or…”

“Hey, back off, will you! That has all to do with Zardari sahib’s government, very bad…and the government before that and…”

“But data suggests that the indicators were better during Zardari sahib’s tenure than…”

“Uh oh, I think I heard Dar sahib summon that dratted Head of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics…”